Christian Science - Church of Christ, Scientist

Church of Christ, Scientist

The Church of Christ, Scientist was founded in 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, by Eddy. The first building constructed as a Christian Science Church was erected in 1886 in Oconto, Wisconsin and still stands at the corner of Main Street and Chicago Street. The original edifice of the Mother Church was completed some years later on Saturday, December 29, 1894, just in time for the first service held there the following day. Eddy was the author of the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, the Christian Science textbook and which, along with the Bible, serve as the permanent "impersonal pastor" of the church. The church was founded "to commemorate the word and works of " and "reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing". Sunday services are held throughout the year and weekly testimony meetings are held on Wednesday evenings, where following brief readings from the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, those in attendance are invited to give testimonies of healing brought about through Christian Science prayer. Christian Science metaphysics teach that God is Spirit and cites the first chapter of Genesis as the true story of creation, where in the King James Bible, "man" is both "male and female", created "in the image and likeness" of God. The story of Adam and Eve is held to be an allegory. Healing on this basis is accomplished without material means and is the traditional bedrock of the church. In the early decades of the 20th century, churches sprang up in communities around the world, though in the last several decades of that century, there was a marked decline in membership, except in Africa, where there has been growth. Several controversies have rocked the church and remain unresolved, according to dissidents. Headquartered in Boston, the church has a worldwide membership of about 85,000. Christian Scientists are usually, though not always or necessarily, members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist (also called The Mother Church) in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Christian Science Board of Directors is a five-person executive entity created by Eddy to conduct the business of the Christian Science Church under the terms defined in the by-laws of the Church Manual. Its functions and restrictions are defined by the Manual.

There are also Christian Science "branch churches." Each Sunday, church members hold services where citations from the Bible and Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Eddy are read by lay members of the church. These Readers are voted into office by the members of the church for a limited period of time (usually for three years). Churches will most often hold mid-week public Testimony Meetings, a time in which anyone can testify to what they believe to be the healing power of the Christ in their lives. Christian Scientists do not regard human affiliation to a church organization as crucial to an individual's salvation. Each individual must follow his/her own path in such matters according to their light, and a person describing him/herself as a Christian Scientist may be a member of a branch church and/or of The First Church of Christ, Scientist (or sometimes of neither).

Some Christian Scientists, after class instruction, become Christian Science Practitioners and start public practices. Practitioners devote all of their time to healing, and normally charge for their services, but may not usually take legal action against patients for non-payment of fees. They are obliged to keep their patients' confidences and are instructed to make concessions in the case of indigent patients. There is no physical manipulation, or laying on of hands in a Christian Science healing treatment.

The church has at times been accused of attempting to silence dissenters by methods such as delisting them as practitioners in the Christian Science Journal, or excommunicating them. Some dissenting groups continue to solicit support among current members of the church.